Swivel conveyors and means for mounting and driving the same



Sept. 11, 1956 R. w. KLlNG 2,762,490

SWIVEL CONVEYORS AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND DRIVING THE SAME OriginalFiled July 28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Sept. 11, 1956 w, K 2,762,490

SWIVEL CONVEYORS AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND DRIVING THE SAME OriginalFiled July.28, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 11, 1956 Original Filed July28, 1950 R. W. KLlNG SWIVEL CONVEYORS AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING AND DRIVINGTHE SAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

R. W. KLING Sept. 11, 1956 SWIVEL CONVEYORS AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING ANDDRIVING THE SAME 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 28, 1950 INVENTOR. figer/ w A7057 United States Patent SWIVEL CONVEYOR'S AND MEANS FORMOUNT- ING AND DRIVING THE SAME Robert W. Kling, Chicago, Ill., assignorto Athey Products Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of IllinoisOriginal application July 28, 1950, Serial No. 176,336. Divided and thisapplication October 11, 1952-, Sena] No. 314,303

1 Claim. (Cl. 198-97) This invention relates to a new and improved formand arrangement of a swivel conveyor and the means for adjustablymounting it on a loader, or the like, and for driving such conveyor inits various adjusted positions, such conveyor being of a type adapted tobe swung horizontally to either side of the machine or to be swungvertically into a position of adjusted elevation.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No.176,336, filed July 28, 1950, and now Patent No. 2,648,422 and entitledSwivel Conveyors and Means for Mounting and Driving the Same.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide improved mountingand driving means for such a swivel conveyor, which shall be of verysimple arrangement, easily and cheaply manufactured, highly effective inoperation, and of great strength and durability.

To this end, I have provided driving means for the conveyor comprisingtwo universal joints, together with means for supporting said universaljoints independently of each other, with one of said universal jointssupported from the machine on which the swivel conveyor is mounted, andthe other universal joint supported from said conveyor. In this improvedconstruction, the universal joints are connected together for thetransmission of power to the conveyor in its various adjusted positionsby driving connections of variable length, such for example as twotelescopically connected shafts keyed for rotation together. Thearrangement is such that the universal joints automatically move totheir proper, positions both horizontally and vertically for providingthe desired smooth driving effect.

It is another object of my invention to provide improved means forsupporting the conveyor in adjusted angular position vertically; toprovide improved means for swinging the conveyor horizontally to thevariousdesired adjusted positions; and to improve the construction andarrangement with respect to various features as may be hereinafterpointed out.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description in connection with the accompanying drawings inwhich similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the four sheets of drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a loader equipped withmy improved swivel conveyor structure, wherein the swivel conveyor is ina position extending longitudinally of the machine upon which it isused;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. l, but withthe swivel conveyor in angled position swung toward one side, andshowing by dotted lines a changed angular position of the swivelconveyor;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially at the line3-3 in Fig. 1, but with the swivel conveyor indicated by dotted lines ina position swung to one side, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 2, andwith two universal joints and associated conveyor driving partsindicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines;

2,762,490 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional viewtaken substantially at the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure as shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially at the line 6-6in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially at the line 77in Fig. 6, with a portion broken away to show details of the structure.

Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosedin the accompanying drawings for purposes of illustration, 15 and 16indicate upright frame members of a machine adapted to pick up andelevate materials for loading into trucks, or the like, the machinebeing supported by carrying wheels 17, only one of which is shown, andincluding an elevating conveyor structure 18 of any approved typeadapted for handling materials; In the construction illustrated, theelevating conveyor structure 18 embodies a heavy shaft 19 having asupporting cylinder or drum 20 mounted thereon so as to support a wideconveyor belt 21 of rubber or other suitable material; such shaft 19being driven by a sprocket wheel 22 (see Fig. 4) from a suitable sourceof power on the loading machine.

As is shown in Fig. 3, a beam 23 connects the midportions of framemembers 15 and 16, with parallel beams 24 secured thereto and extendingrearwardly from the. loading machine to provide support for a platform25 at the rear and to one side of the machine. An obliquely positionedbrace bar 26, connected at its lower end with the upright frame member15 and connected at its upper end with one of the beams 24, serves toreinforce the platform for holding it rigidly in position. At about themiddle of the machine transversely thereof, a heavy brace beam 27 isprovided in oblique position connected at its upper end with the beams24 and connected at its lower. end with the framework of the loader at apoint between the uprights 15 and 16. I

On the platform 25, a turntable 29 is mounted (see.

Fig. 6) so as to be rotatable about a vertical. axis, supported by aplate 30 and heavy ring 31, with a series of bearing balls 32 interposedtherebetween and running in opposed circular grooves; a heavy bolt orpin 33 serving to hold the parts in their aligned working positions. A,

collar 34 carried by a plate 30 assists in holding the parts in centeredposition with respect to each other and serves to protect the bearingagainst the entrance of dust or the like.

On the turntable 29, a heavy shaft 35 is fixedly. mounted in ahorizontal position, with plates 36 interposed be tween the turntableand the shaft for enabling the shaft to be secured readily by welding atpositions spaced longitudinally thereof. On opposite ends of the shaft35 in its fixed position on the turntable, I have bearing sleeves 37mounted for rotational movement; said bearing sleeves having plates 38and 39 welded to their outer ends so as to form cap members providingpivotal supports for vertlcal swinging movements of the swivel conveyor,and

the side bars 40 of the conveyor being secured by bolts- 41 to saidplates 38 and 39.

As is shown in Fig. 1, a jack 42 of any approved type to swing theswivvel conveyor upwardly or downwardly about the shaft 35. Suchvertical adjustment of the swivel conveyor may be made without regard tothe a angular position of the conveyor laterally of the machine, byreason of the fact that the vertical axis of the turntable is alignedwith the vertical axis of the joint 42a on which the jack is connectedto the machine frame. The jack 42 is preferably of a type adapted to beadjusted manually.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the swivel conveyor embodies a wide endlessbelt 44 of rubber or other suitable material carried by rotatablecylindrical supporting rollers 45 rotatably mounted on shafts 46 adaptedto turn freely in pillow blocks 47 secured to the upper surfaces of theside beams 40 of the conveyor. At opposite sides, the conveyor isprovided with'side boards 48 including portions 49 at the inner endsthercof, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, which are mounted to openoutwardly from the general plane of the side boards. For permitting theoutward movement of the portions 49, while normally retaining theirupright positions in the general plane of the side boards, they aremounted relative to the side boards by spring hinges of any suitabletype which are arranged to resiliently bias the portions to their raisedpositions. In my improved construction, arms 50 are mounted at oppositesides of the rear end of the elevating conveyor; the arm at either sideof the conveyor being in position to engage the inner face of theadjacent movable side board portion 49 when the conveyor is swung towardeither side, and being adapted by such engagement to swing such sideboard portion downwardly in an amount dependent upon the extent to whichthe conveyor is swung toward its extreme position of lateral movement inone direction. The arms 50 are supported rigidly in position by anglebars 51 fixedly mounted on the framework of the machine, as shown inFig. 5.

In my improved construction, it is important that the front end of theswivel conveyor be positioned at only a short distance below the rearend of the elevating conveyor 18 so as to keep to a minimum the heightto which the elevating conveyor must extend and to keep to a minimum thedistance through which the material is thrown in its movement from theelevating conveyor to the swivel conveyor and thus cutting down theforce of the impact of the material on the swivel conveyor. This closepositioning of the two conveyors as shown in Fig. l is made possible bythe use of the hingedly mounted side board portions 49. When said sideportions 49 are held in their raised positions by the spring hinges,they tend to prevent passage of material over the sides of the swivelconveyor as such material is discharged from the elevating conveyor.When the swivel conveyor is swung to a substantial distance towardeither side of the machine, said side board portions are lowered out ofthe way so as not to interfere with the movement of any of the parts.

At the upper end of the main elevating conveyor of the machine and abovethe end of the swivel conveyor, I have provided a baflle platecomprising a rubber sheet 52 with its end portions held at substantiallyright angles and secured to the end of the elevating conveyor inposition to deflect the material being delivered from the end of theelevating conveyor 21 and to direct such material effectively to theunderlying end of the swivel conveyor 44. The rubber sheet 52 of thedisclosed structure is reinforced on its outer face by bars 54. a

The means, as shown, for swinging the swivel conveyor horizontally aboutthe axis of the turntable 29 comprises a cylinder 55 having a piston rod56 and piston 56a slidably mounted therein, said cylinder beingpivotally connected at one end to the upright beam 15, as shown in Fig.3. The end of the piston rod 56 is pivotally connected to the turntableat a substantial distance from the axis of turning movement thereof.Flexible tubes 57 and S operatively connected with opposite end portionsof the cylinder 55 are adapted to receive fluid under pressureselectively from any suitable source for extending or retracting thepiston rod 56 with respect to the cylinder for swinging the turntableand the swivel conveyor to the desired angular position with respect tothe machine as a whole. In the construction illustrated, the swivelconveyor is adapted to be swung through an angle of about 45 to eitherside of the longitudinal center line of the elevating conveyor.

The means illustrated for driving the swivel conveyor belt 44 comprisesa short shaft 59 (Figs. 1 and 5) rotatably mounted on the framework ofthe machine adjacent to the upright beam 15. This shaft is driven fromthe drive mechanism for the main elevating conveyor and is provided witha sprocket 69 drivingly connected by a chain 61 and sprocket 62 with ashort shaft 63, which latter shaft is ro-tatably supported on theplatform 25 by a plate 64 and attached bearing support sleeve 64a. Theshort shaft 63 is connected by a universal joint 65 with another shaft66 which is slidably mounted in and keyed to a sleeve 67 so as to causethe sleeve to rotate with the shaft. The sleeve 67 is rigidly connectedwith a second sleeve 68, which in turn is rigidly connectedwith a seconduniversal joint 69 rigidly connected with a short shaft 70 journalled byanti-friction bearings in a bearing support sleeve 39a secured to theplate 39 which is supported by the heavy shaft 35, as described. Theshaft 70 is drivingly connected with the shaft 46 of the endlessconveyor belt 44 such driving connection being effected by sprockets 71and 72 rigidly mounted on the shafts 70 and 46 respectively, andconnected together by a chain 73.

In the preparation for operation of my improved apparatus, the jack 42is adjusted for moving the swivel conveyor vertically to the desiredangular position. Fluid under pressure is then admitted to one or theother of the flexible connections 57 or 58 as may be required forcausing the conveyor to swing to the desired angular positionhorizontally, whereupon the machine is ready for action.

This preliminary adjustment of the parts is effected without disturbingthe adaptability of the machine for operation. When the swivel conveyoris swung either upwardly or downwardly, or is swung horizontally ineither direction to the desired angular position with respect to theelevating conveyor, the short shaft 70 carried by the swivel conveyor atone side of the machine is maintained at all times in proper drivingrelationship to the short shaft 63 carried by the platform 25 on theloader at the opposite side of the machine. The changes in the angularpositions of the shafts 63 and 70 with respect to each other as broughtabout by the adjustments of the swivel conveyor with respect to theloader are small enough that the drive through the two connecteduniversal joints is maintained at all times smooth and effective forefiicient operation of the machine including the swivel conveyor, evenwhen the conveyor is moved to the limit of its adjustment eithervertically or horizontally. Any change in the distance from oneuniversal joint to the other is taken care of automatically by thelongitudinallyextensible connection comprising the parts 66, 67 and 68as above described.

By the use of my invention, a very practical and dcsirable constructionis produced, without the use of complicated structures or structuralarrangements; my improved structure being readily understandable andeasily controlled by the workers handling this type of machinery. Theparts are simple to manufacture and are easy to maintain in properworking condition, and highly effective results have been obtained bythe use of the improved construction.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not Wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a mainconveyor having a discharge end and a swivel conveyor having end carrierand a material receiving end portion, said discharge end of said mainconveyor being disposed in vertically spaced overlapping relation to thematerial receiving end portion of said swivel conveyor to define aposition of transfer of material from the main conveyor to the swivelconveyor, said swivel conveyor being mounted for lateral and verticalswinging movements relative to the main conveyor about first and secondaxes respectively, said first axis intersecting said swivel conveyor atthe position of transfer of material thereto, said second axis beingdisposed below the position of transfer intermediate the end carriers ofthe swivel conveyor, means for driving the swivel conveyor from the mainconveyor in all positions to which the swivel conveyor is swunglaterally or vertically with respect to the main conveyor, said meansincluding a driving element fixed in position relative to said mainconveyor and having an axis positioned below said second axis in a planeintersecting the first axis at right angles thereto, a driven elementfixed in position relative to the swivel conveyor and having an axispositioned below said second axis and disposed in a plane intersectingthe first axis at right angles thereto, and a longitudinally extensibleelongated shaft means including universal joints providing drivingconnections between said driving element and one end of the extensibleshaft element and between said driven element and the other end of theextensible shaft element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS298,250 Sprague May 6, 1884 399,211 Reeder Mar. 5, 1889 400,270 ThorpeMar. 26, 1889 771,746 Peters Oct. 4, 1904 1,369,528 Jons Feb. 22, 19211,401,909 Hurt Dec. 27, 1921 1,883,054 Stanley Oct. 18, 1932 2,609,115Oklejas Sept. 2, 1952

